Comprehensive nuclear deal possible by end of July: Zarif

Press TV-(Sun Mar 2, 2014) Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says a comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and six major world powers over Tehran’s nuclear energy program is possible by the end of July.

“We believe that there is the possibility to reach a comprehensive solution [to Iran nuclear issue] in a six-month period by the end of July, provided that the opposite side have the political resolve and goodwill, and remain committed to the terms of the Joint Plan of Action,” Zarif said at a joint press conference with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo in Tehran on Sunday.He further stressed that the other side must win the Iranian nation’s trust and respect its rights.“In that case, it is possible to reach a solution that will retain Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and abolish the sanctions while removing the international concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities,” the top Iranian diplomat pointed out.Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — Russia, China, France, Britain and the United States — plus Germany inked an interim deal on Tehran’s nuclear energy program in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 24 last year. The Geneva agreement, dubbed the Joint Plan of Action, took effect on January 20.Iran and the six countries wrapped up their latest round of nuclear negotiations in Vienna, Austria, on February 20 and are set to meet again in the Austrian city on March 17 to continue their talks.The negotiations are aimed at reaching a final agreement to fully resolve the decade-old dispute over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program.The Iranian minister further said that Tehran and Madrid are both politically resolved to improve bilateral cooperation, particularly in economic sectors.“As ralliers to dialog and a world without violence, the two countries can prepare the ground for the fight against extremism,” Zarif stated.Also speaking at the event, Garcia-Margallo called for the expansion of bilateral political and economic ties. He also praised Iran for its fight against drug-trafficking.